Vehicle hoist



June 15, 1948. THOMPSON 2,443,405

VEHICLE HOIST Filed July 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

VEHICLE H June 15, 1948.

Filed Jul y 12, 1947 2 Sheets-g 2 s w p a: I M U v Patented June 15, 1948 VEHICLE HOIST i ElmerB. Thompson, "Des Mines,,Iowa, -assi gnor to Globe. Hoist Company, Des Moines, Iowa, at

- corporationloilowa -=Application Jiily12, 1947,!SerialiNo. 3760.532

' '3 Claims. 1 invention relates generally zto'rvehicle hoists or lifts and in particular to an automobile hoist adapted to be lowered into a'floor pit such that thefioor space occupied'by the hoist .-is.free of any obstructions, and with theli'ft beingzcap'able of immediate use for; lifting an automobile. It is an-object of this invention to provideaan improved've'h'icle lift.

- A further object of this invention is-toprov-ide a'hoist of twopost type"adapted to'belowered within the floor-pit; below the level ofthe "floor surfaceyandof-aconstruction such that the floor =area=occupied by the'hoist can be safely "and "freely used when the hoist is in either a lowered or ara-isedposition.

Another object" of this invention is to: provide 'a rear post for a twogpost hoist w'hich can'be lowered-Within the how pit to a-position below the -1'evel of the floor surface through openings of'such a narrow-width that the openings can'loe left uncovered" at all times'without creating any physical hazard, or obstruction to "the passage thereover -of automobiles, wheel do'llies, grease carts or th'elike.

A particular'feature of this invention is" found in the provision of atwo-posthoist-having a rear axle supporting structure including a pair of spacedlongitudinally extended uprightplate 'members,---each of which carries anadjustable iaxle-engaging'block on'its top edge. --'Floor open ings for receiving the plate members are of a width substantially equal to the thickness'of a plate 'mernber 'plus a working clearance and the axle-engagingblocksare of a construction such that they can"be located across the openings axle Supporting-structure asse en along theline :;3::in i .2;

:Fig. 4 1s a-perspective-view of an axleeengaging block zillustrated with therear axle structure in Fi s. ,;2iand .3;

:Fig'. "5 :iS'fi IIfQIlSVEGISE sectional view, illustrated similarly to Fi 1 3,,showing a ,modified iform of axle-engagin bl ckran 1 :Figwfiziswa perspective view of the axle-engaging block shown in Fig. 5.

-With refierence -to-thedrawings,-- there is shown in Fig, 1 :an automobile -hoist of two-post type including frontiandrear hoists,- with theiront v hoist :"having, a cylinder "Hi i and anassociated :piston .orfzlifti-ng member --l and the rears-hoist havinga;cylinder--- L2 and associated v"piston I 3.

The front hoist is lqcated-in a pit l 4 formed in a floor, indicated-generally as, and includes a front axletsuppqrting' structure .or saddle ll of atsubstaniiallyu shape, which is fixedtothe top of'rt-hecpistong Hi Ehefl'reeends of the legs of the saddle-Jbanesp iovided with front axle-engagingmenibersyl 8 The openingcglfirat-;;the;top :of; the front pitl 4 isi of a size andlsha pe such thatthe saddle ll, at thelowermostrilimit of travel of the piston H is received zwithinzth'eqpit'. l l loelow the surface of therfioorhlfi. {On a -loweringiof-the saddle ll withinrtheipi Mxthezpitonen 1-915 u om tically closedcby apair ofafioon or cover-plateau which are-'hingedaat theirouter sidesiz to oppowhenthe lift isin its lowered position, and then be'engaged' and carried in assembly relation on the plate'memberswhen'the'lift is raised. On lovveringof'the lift below the floorsurface, the

bl'ocks-area-arrested-at the'fioorsurface entirely line z-i-il 'rin i ig; .3, and: showing :such structure in its lcwveredzpositiorrxwithinv at. fioor-ipit; "fi- EEiglfB is -a transversexsectional view' ofzthe; rear siteside Walls'of thei pllhl'fl' for-pivotal movement upwardlyaand;away-from-zeachother to their'open positions,w.shown, iniFig.; 1. :When the saddle ll is withinztheapit'ilfl, the: cover plates 2| are oarried -:in :closedwpositions on the axleeengagin member-s48. p

Thus when the piston H is initially raised, the cover :platestZl; arepush'ed upwardly totheir openepositionsbyithesaddle member ll. On a continued raisingvofzthegpiston I I, the inner sides of: the cover plates rest againstzthe saddlejmemher and. piston H ;so ;as to I be upwardly inclined toward: each-othen: aszshowninu-Fig. 1, to constituteesidegguards-fon'thapit opening M, so as to preventanyaccidentalslippingbya person into the pit. *TWh'en the -front,hoist' is in its lowered position, the vcoverr plates; 2! are substantially "flush' with thafioor-i I 6 --;-The ,rearghoist i-s mounted in a floor pit 23 and tincludesga rearpaxlesupportingstructure having a :transversely extended tubular ,heam member .-z4- fixedat-its centeraport o t t t p 1 of t :p s on' '3 Ei s.;-l;;2; and ,3 :S1lif flbl f Secured t0 ronnosite ends of -the-qbe am memben 24 are -longitudinally extended flat upright plate or frame members 26.

Rear axle-engaging blocks, indicated generally as 21, are movably carried on the top edges of the upright plate members 26 for movement longitudinally thereof to axle-engaging positions. Each block 21 (Figs. 2 and 4) is comprised of a pair of spaced side members 23 and 28a having a pair of rollers 29 rotatably carried therebetween on shafts 3| at positions intermediate their ends. The side plates 28 and 28a are maintained in fixed relative positions by a block mem: ber 32 located between the rollers 29 and secured, as by welding, to the inner surfaces of the side members 28 and 28a. Spacer rods or pins 33 are connected between the top ends of the side members 28 and 26a to opposite sides of axlereceiving V-notches 34 formed in the side members.

The lower portions 36 and 36a ofthe side plates 28 and 28a, below the rollers 29, are spaced a distance apart adapted to straddle the upper ends of the upright frame members 26 so that the rollers 29 are ridable on the top edges of the frame members 26. The lower portions 36 and 36a of the side plates 28 and 28a,-respectively, thus constitute guide members for maintaining the axle blocks 21 in assembly positions on the frame members 26.

Extended laterally outwardly from the bottom edges of the lower portions 36 and 36a, of the side plates 28 and 284, respectively, are projections or feet 31 and 31a, with the projections 31 being below the plane of the projection 31a for a purpose which will appear later. Stated otherwise, the portion 36 from the roller shafts 3| is longer than the portion 3611.

Adapted to rest on the top of the tubular beam 24 at a position between the upright plate or frame members 26 is a vertically movable cover plate 38 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which is provided with a pair of downward extensions 39 guidably projected through the tubular beam 24 for movement within the top of the piston 13. As best appears in Fig. 2, the width of the plate 38 is greater than the diameter of the tubular beam 24 so that the sides of the plate extend outwardly to each side of the tubular beam 24.

The opening of the rear pit 23 is of a size and shape such that when the piston I3 is in its lowermost position, the rear axle supporting structure is receivable therein at a position below the level of the floor l6. A closing of the pit opening, when the rear hoist is in either a lowered or raised position, is accomplished by the provision of means including a pair of cover plates 4|.

With reference to Fig. 1, it is seen that the cover plates 4| are of a substantially rectangular shape and have their inner sides 42 spaced from each other to form a transverse opening 43 for receiving the beam 24. Each end of the pit 23 (Fig. 2) is recessed to accommodate an angle iron 44 to which the outer sides of the cover plates 4| are hinged at 46 for up and down movement. Fixed adjacent the inner sides of the plates 4| are downwardly projected legs 41 which are of a length corresponding substantially to the depth of the pit 23, so as to support the cover plates 4| against downward pivotal movement at positions substantially flush with the surface ofthe floor I6 Complete accessibility to the pit 2 3 is accomplished by merely pivoting the plates 4| upwardly from their closed positions shown in Fig. 1.

Each end 48 of a cover plate 4| (Figs. 1 and 3) is spaced inwardly from an adjacent side 49 of the pit 23 to form a longitudinally extended opening 5| which is open to an end of the transverse opening 43, and adapted to loosely receive therethrough an upright plate member 26.

In one embodiment of the invention, each plate member 26 is about four feet long and three quarters of an inch thick. The side plates 28 and 28a, of an axle-engaging block 21, are about three-eights of an inch in thickness and spaced apart over their lower portions 36 and 36, a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a plate member 26. Each longitudinal opening 5| is of a width substantially equal to the thickness of a plate 26 plus a working clearance. The working clearance, to opposite sides of a plate member 26, is on the order of about one fourth of an inch, so that the total overall width of a longitudinal opening 5| is on the order of about one and one-quarter inches.

It is seen, therefore, that an opening 5| is of a relatively narrow width so that it can be left uncovered at all times without creating any dangerous or hazardous pitfall for a person to slip into. As a result, wheel dollies, grease carts and the like can be readily driven over a longitudinal opening 5!, and a person can easily step across or on an opening 5| with complete safety.

The top edges of the outer side walls 49 of the pit 23, which also constitute the outer side walls of the longitudinal openings 5|, are recessed, as indicated at 53, to receive the foot 3! of the axle block side plate 23 in a mating relation. In other words, the 'foot 3'! is vertically offset below the foot 31a by an amount equal to the depth of the recess 53 so that an axle block 27 is supported in an upright position when the foot 37 is within the recess 53, and the foot 31a is resting on the floor l6, for a purpose to be later noted.

The inner sides 42 of the cover plates 4| (Fig. l) are formed intermediate their ends with oppositely arranged arcuate recesses 54 adapted to receive the piston I3 therebetween. By virtue of the recesses 54, the transverse opening 43, between the plate ends 42, is reduced to a width slightly larger than the diameter of the tubular beam 24 so as to be of a relatively narrow width while providing for the passage of the beam 24 therethrough to a position within the pit 23 and below the plates 4| When the rear hoist is in its lowermost position of travel, the transverse opening 43 is covered by the plate 38, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the pit 23 is completely closed except for the longitudinal openings 5|. However, as mentioned above, the openings 5| are of such a narrow width that they in no way interfere with the passing of vehicles or persons thereover. Further, the arcuate recesses 54 in the plates 4| are partially covered by the plate 38 when the rear hoist is in a lowered position, so that the floor space occupied by the rear hoist is substantially free and unobstructed.

On an initial raising of the piston l3, the frame members 26 are moved upwardly through the openings 5|. On a continued raising of the piston l3, the cover plate 38 is engaged b the tubular beam 24 and lifted from the covers 4|. When the piston 53 is lowered, the cover plate 33 remains in a supported position on the tubular beam 24 until the beam is received within the space 43 and substantially beneath the plates 4|.

At this position of the beam 24 the opposite sides of the cover plates 38 are engaged and s -szsor the pietes" l 't nirtne down aid for he reencent: its sicl ar' -1ieist;;i11ustrated m-rlar n all respec s te the rear hoist illustra't'ed 'The'Wfi-tica sentireiyautenietiee r sea ii'esition bein "supported-en the z'vtelow the top rever nt trie freme 'memn tl'ie op'eratiori of tlie -a'n' liar-hoists 'o b 1 e"kenartsdn mgs.11;-2 and'3. I

ardent-locks s 'itEigsx 51 and c) are -of en s eonstr u 'blocl* 59 inciuds t 'spa'cedrlsid'e members z h'e'ld tdgeth'er w eels 1 31' pace Wrelatibn' by a spacing blbok *SZ' and SiMs? 56 he' aiitombile iren axieis 'preperiy looomf i a m s -831 "-=T e 'b 0 a movab r' upcite" wave the saddl'e meirjibeil l' fo'r en agepor'ted omzthempperfiedgesf ot'theirame menibers trb "-g aggl'e engaging members [-8. "filthy rollers' 21-3. TSecu'retl to the bottom d'ges' of With 'tl1e front axle V of "the eutombtne i thus z-"e'a ch: -'of 'the :sideimembers t2 are angle members positioned for engagement the members; It, eg it arranged s'oi: thatv ztnei ve'rtic allees fi'l' 'a-re t 'blo'cks 2 are eXt'nded-acros's the=longitudie adjacent to eachmther 'andlin substant my: the n l ""o'pening 51- with afoot BTlooated writhina plane of a side member 62, while their horizontal reces's 5'3;' and*a fot s'la 'resting on a'cover'plate legs-"66 are extende'd laterally outwardly from the 4L Thearrangementof a foott'l witnin a rekside membersf -It is ontemplat'ed-' that theside "ces's? 53 aligns theside"plates'QB and 2 8a of'an i225 members fi h'e: for ci -of about 'a t ir t axle" block '2'? in-parallel-alignment with a rame -inch plate 'fiiaterial arid that the ahgl'e ni'ernb'e'rs member 2 6 at a-position to' receivre the frame -be of'va thi ckne'ss of about tliree siietenths ofan ni'ember'threbetween. inch. v Th'e attle blocls 21, in theiraligned positions rlt ln iiithe :op'e'ration of the hoist, with the a Xle wlth the franie niembers 2 fi,'-are-'movable iongie iblocksofifi-aassume -rear h'oi'st' to'be in its' l-o'wt'iidin'ally of the 'openi'ngs" 51- to adjusted -posi- "erectpositioni showhin-Figl fi; Whenin th-is 'po- *tidnsfdr engaging the rear axle of' the automoisition the iegs 6 4"are pos'itiona'ble witliin the lo'm 'bile' fln ether Word-$ 15116 automobile front axle fgitudinalmpn in'gs 5 to pnos'ite side's'"of altfup- "i spotted relative to' the engagin members lil, {rig'hVframe-memb'e so that-'the blockis supand--'-theblocls 2'1 are inovable longitudinally' of in an upright position by. tlie horizontal the openi s 5I; an d-in turn'of thefrearliftgto 'of the bposite side adjustedsiti'ons-corresponding 'to*the p' a-rtichu z'b i immmgm- 111931" WhBeF-baSB or the automobile tome lifted. Vilithth' front and rear "hoists "thus properly *set' -fo'r engaging the front and rear axles, respectivelyi'of the automobile, the hoistsare conm a-w t 111 71511 3129. currently operated to'ra-ise *theplstons-"lIfan'd I -n "lowering o-f thahoistto' itspositionwithin l3'todsiredl'evatioris. A v -the pit '3 lthel ho rizontal legs ofi 'areengaged-with the side plates 28 and 28a; respe'ctivelyyandinto I NLj's. e' ;:1; ftj'r'e' iith t m ow- 1 a contact engagement-witnthe rollers 29. Thus on a3 glgiiffi: g -;p' o w n fi a continued elevation of the rearhoist, the axle fthe 'wofking (gleafgnelof a p t m m igew g blocks 21 aremovable upwardly with the frame ii- 1 tlbhgjjtijifliflalfldpnin sp d. co bzv 'ith the membersflfi. s'id-ef wan-s "of thelongitudinal openings todocate When the rear hoist is lowered; the-axle'blocks i jtmc wg .la' t-t'jp'sitions h that; theyaare 27 are movable downwardlywith-theframe mern- '55 -f'eceived n sinblyrelation on "the upright bers 26 u'ntil'the feet 3'! and 31a are engaged by ifra'y 'fimmb f?2.6 v eo u refifly w qgvatheefioor l6 and plates 4 l;' respectively. {At that mm theihoistl a :"tiine "further downward movement of the axle "Fr rw =z 1 blo'ckslz'l'is' arrested and the IpIate niernbe 2s swam-i351 i gby means gi gtiigiigj COfit-i-Iiue: their -downward=' movement out ot an F l iftp 's g r j ta k-l n' s own assembly relation with the axle blocks. As a ref' m rg e jik n wm m 51111? when the member-125 fi below, the pipe M having a control valve 85 (Fig. 1). The 5:2 3%; 3: 2; 22 2 5 225 2 z gfig pressure tank is connected with the front cylinder until wanted for later use Althou h the lon- (35 m by means Including pipe and the rear b cylinder I2 is connected with the pressure tank gltudinal openings 5| may be left entirely unth 1 th 6 d b covered at all times, it is apparent that the down rough p pe 8 W e pipes 8 an 81 eward movement of the piston l3 may be limited mg provlded Wlth control Valves 33 and at a position providing for the top edg s of t spectively, which are conveniently located above upright members 26 being substantially flush the floor I6 o mampulatlon y t e hoist operwith the floor It, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. at The cylmders IB d l are f a usual y- In this event, the openings 5| would be entirely uli typ w h h admission of air under closed except for the working clearances of the pressure to a cylinder acting on the fluid in the frame members 26. cylinder to in turn raise a corresponding piston In Figs. 5 and 6 there is illustrated a modified in a manner which is well known in the art.

From a consideration of the above description, it is seen that the invention provides an automobile hoist, in which the front and rear hoists are capable of being received entirely within floor pits and below the level of a floor surface, without leaving any objectionable or hazardous openings uncovered. The axle blocks on the rear hoist structure are completely removed from their assembly relation with such structure as it is lowered within the floor pit. Coacting portions on the axle blocks and on the floor are adapted to align the axle blocks relative to the upright frame members 26 so that the members 26 are moved into an assembly relation with the blocks concurrently with the raising of the hoist structure.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle lift including a lift member mounted in a floor pit and movable to a lowered position within said pit below the level of the floor surface, an axle-supporting structure carried at the upper end of said lift member comprising a transverse beam member, a pair of oppositely arranged longitudinally extended substantially flat upright members fixed on said beam, said floor surface having a transverse opening therein for receiving said beam member, and a pair of longitudinal openings adapted to receive said upright members, axle-engaging blocks movably supported on said upright members to adjusted positions comprising upright side members having their lower portions spaced apart so as to receive the upper portions of said upright members. in a straddling relation, and outwardly extended lateral projections adjacent the bottom edges of said side members adapted to rest on the opposite side Walls of said longitudinal openings, with said longitudinal openings being of a width substantially equal to the thickness of an upright member plus a working clearance, whereby n lowering of the lift member within said floor pit said axle-engaging blocks are arrested at the floor surface.

2. In a vehicle lift including a lift member mounted in a floor pit and movable to a lowered position within said pit below the level of the floor surface, an axle supporting structure carried at the upper end of said lift member comprising a transverse beam member, a pair of longitudinally extended substantially flat upright plate members at opposite ends of said transverse beam member, said floor surface having a transverse opening therein for receiving said beam member, and a pair of longitudinal openings adapted to receive said plate members, with said longitudinal openings being of a width substantially equal to the thickness of 'a'plate member plus a working clearance, axle-engaging blocks movably supported on the top edges of said plate members to adjusted positions longitudinally thereof, oppositely arranged guide members on said blocks adapted to straddle said plate members and having their bottom edges engageable with opposite sides of said longitudinal openings, with one of said guide members being longer than the other thereof, and one of the side walls of said longitudinal openings having a longitudinally extended recess in its top side adapted to receive the lower end of said longer guide member therein, said blocks, on a lowering of said lift member within said floor pit, being arrested at the floor surface, and said longer guide member, on being located in said recess when the lift is in a lowered position, providing for the movement of said plate members between said guide members as the lift is raised.

3. In a vehicle lift including a lift member mounted in a floor pit and movable to a lowered position Within said pit below the level of the floor surface, an axle-supporting structure carried at the upper end of said lift member comprising a transverse beam member, a pair of longitudinally extended substantially flat upright plate members at opposite ends of said beam member, said floor surface having a transverse opening for receiving said beam member therethrough, and a pair of longitudinal openings adapted to receive said plate members, with said longitudinal openings being of a width substantially equal to the thickness of a plate member plus a working clearance, axle-engaging blocks movably supported on the upper edges of said plate members having oppositely arranged down Wardly extended guide members for straddling said plate members, with said guide members being engageable with the opposite side walls of said longitudinal openings, when said lift member is lowered below said floor surface to arrest the downward movement of said blocks at the floor surface, and coacting means on said guide members and said side walls for aligning said blocks relative to said plate members, when the lift is in a lowered position, to provide for the reception of the plate members between said guide members as the lift is raised.

ELMER B. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,015,357 Weaver Sept. 24, 1935 2,100,617 Thompson Nov. 30, 1937 2,423,954 Thompson July 15, 1947 

